Online Sales Tax Plan Backed in Florida Senate

Online Sales Tax Plan Backed in Florida Senate

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida The Florida Senate on Thursday approved a proposal that would require out-of-state online retailers to collect sales taxes, with the money slated to be used to help Florida business owners avoid increases in unemployment taxes. In a 30-10 vote, the Senate backed the proposal (SB 50), which […]

Vaccination Age to Drop to 40 Next Week

Vaccination Age to Drop to 40 Next Week

By The News Service of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced that all Floridians ages 40 and older will be able to receive COVID-19 vaccinations starting Monday and that all adults will be eligible on April 5. The announcement came after eligibility expanded to people ages 50 and older this week. “We have made […]

Lawmakers Looking Again at Vaping Regulations

Lawmakers Looking Again at Vaping Regulations

By Dara Kam, The News Service of Tallahassee TALLAHASSEE — More than two years after the U.S. surgeon general declared youth vaping an epidemic, Florida lawmakers again are working on an effort to regulate the sale of electronic cigarettes and raise the age to use tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21. Gov. Ron […]

Ex. Senator Artiles Charged in Sham Candidate Case

Ex. Senator Artiles Charged in Sham Candidate Case

By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Miami-Dade County state attorney has charged former Florida Sen. Frank Artiles with election fraud for allegedly propping up a sham candidate in a razor-thin Senate contest in which an incumbent Democrat was ousted by a Republican challenger in November. Artiles is accused of using […]

DeSantis Releases Civics Education Plan

DeSantis Releases Civics Education Plan

Relying on federal coronavirus relief funds for schools, Gov. Ron DeSantis is proposing to spend $106 million to bolster civics education, including offering bonuses to teachers who complete training. During a news conference Wednesday in Naples, DeSantis announced what he’s calling the “Civic Literacy Excellence Initiative.” Part of the plan would direct the Florida Department […]

Florida Jobless Rate Falls to 4.8%

Florida Jobless Rate Falls to 4.8%

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Despite the leisure and hospitality industry still struggling during the coronavirus pandemic, Florida’s unemployment rate continues to improve as vaccinations increase and people return to the workforce. The state Department of Economic Opportunity reported Monday that Florida’s unemployment rate decreased to 4.8 percent in January, […]

House Panel Targets School Board Pay

House Panel Targets School Board Pay

By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — After debating whether county school board members should be paid, and if ending salaries would threaten diversity on the boards, a House panel took a first step Friday toward letting voters decide the issue in 2022. The Republican-controlled House Secondary Education & Career Development Subcommittee, […]

GOP Senators Back Vote-By-Mail Overhaul

GOP Senators Back Vote-By-Mail Overhaul

By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — With backing from Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Florida Senate committee on Wednesday approved a wide-ranging proposal to revamp vote-by-mail laws, including banning the use of drop boxes and taking aim at a practice known as “ballot harvesting.” The bill (SB 90) comes amid efforts in […]

Report Shows Longstanding Problems with Unemployment System

Report Shows Longstanding Problems with Unemployment System

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s online unemployment system was never tested to meet the demands encountered during the coronavirus pandemic, and more than a dozen issues remained outstanding years after the system went live, according to a report released Thursday by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office. The 95-page draft report […]

DeSantis Executive Order Allows Vaccine for “Vulnerable” People

DeSantis Executive Order Allows Vaccine for “Vulnerable” People

By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — After focusing almost exclusively since December on vaccinating seniors, Gov. Ron DeSantis has cleared the way for more people under age 65 to receive shots if they are “extremely vulnerable” to COVID-19. DeSantis issued an executive order late Friday afternoon that allows physicians to vaccinate […]

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